Stuart Cumberland is a painter who lives and works in London. His research is concerned with postconceptual painting, in other words, why, how and what to paint after conceptual art. He exhibits internationally and through representation at the Approach gallery.

He is best known for making a generic type of gestural, yet controlled, monochromatic abstract painting, which promote a conclusion that the label postconceptual painting is applied to artworks that are representations of painting and as such are not real painting. In recent years he has transferred his energies from making paintings to making what he calls pictures. Through this categorical switch the emphasis falls not so much on medium but upon image.

For his pictures Cumberland utilises a limited vernacular of motifs common to the history of art and specifically painting; such as the human head and face, dogs, guns and still life elements––table tops and chairs for example. These motifs are repeated through stencil techniques, from picture to picture, to make a variety of visual compositions providing the viewer with ambiguous (tragi-comic) imagery open to a play of unfixed interpretations.

For more information on Stuart’s research, teaching and supervision experience, also see: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/cumberland-stuart